Since its debut in 2009, the Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) has become known for its fantastical performances that often incorporate elements of sci-fi, action, gore, and horror. So it might come as a surprise that the troupe has never put on an actual Halloween show.

“It feels like it’s been a long time coming,” says BROS artistic director Aran Keating. “There’s always been a close affiliation with BROS and Halloween. The art around Halloween just matches so well with the core of what we try to put on stage.”

It wasn’t until one of the BROS recent “pitch parties”—in which the company invites the community to submit their original rock opera ideas—that the group was inspired to explore the possibility of producing a show tied to the spooky holiday.

“This is our take on Halloween attractions,” Keating says. “It’s not a haunted house, it’s not a magic show, and it’s not a theatrical show. It’s some sort of combination of all those things. You come in and you’ll have a seated experience in this sort of creepy, old museum.”

The Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture downtown will be the venue for Lurid Happenings: A Night of Mischief and Devilry, which runs October 26-28 with a special performance on Halloween night. Each evening will feature an early performance at 7:30 p.m., followed by a later show at 9:45 p.m.

The story follows The Amazing Allerdyce, played by local actor Rex Anderson, and his peculiar assistant Sinifredo, played by magician Lucas Gerace, who have recently returned from a globe-trotting exploration of the dark arts. Incorporating magic and audience participation, the show promises to “test your fears, and perhaps even provide a little guidance from the spirits just beyond your vision.”

“It’s about the depths of human desire,” Keating explains, being careful not to reveal too many details. “Where does following those desires lead you? And what types of unsavory turns might you take? It explores the ways it can all go wrong when people band together and human nature takes over.”

Though the summer’s Incredibly Dead was billed as the BROS’ final performance of 2018 and they normally just host a Halloween party, Lurid Happenings felt like a nice way to expand on those festivities.

“We all wanted to do something more than just throw a party,” Keating says. “We’ve experimented with little scripted narrative performances that happen at those parties, but it never gives us full access to an audience’s attention. We really want to take you through something that grips you.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a BROS Halloween event without dancing and drinks. Each evening will feature a party in The Peale Center’s top-floor gallery space where attendees can sip cocktails and enjoy interactive entertainment while jamming to live music from local rockers Quattracenta October 26-27, Voodoo Pharmacology on October 28, and HexGirlfriends on October 31. The reception is set to begin after the first performance of the evening, and it will be open to audiences of both shows.

While Keating is looking forward to closing out the year with Lurid Happenings, he is also excited for what’s to come in 2019. Aside from planning new productions (he teases an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure rock opera as a possibility for next year), the company is preparing for a big move.

Thanks to a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $75,000 after the society was forced out of its former headquarters inside the Bell Foundry building in 2016, the troupe is finally closing in on a new permanent home.

“There is really good news on the horizon,” Keating says. “We don’t have all the dots together yet, but we’re very much in the process of this big transformative moment where we can really put down roots.”

From costume contests and concerts to Halloweekend bar crawls and devilish dance parties, celebrating Halloween is tons of skele-fun for everyone—not just for the kids. So leave your little monsters at home and check out these Baltimore events for a holiday celebration full of booze, boos, and witch’s brews.

Creepy Crawls

Federal Hill-O-Ween: Creep and crawl over to Federal Hill’s 10th annual Halloween tour-de-bar on October 27 from 5 p.m.-12 a.m. Drink your way through 14 of Federal Hill’s spookiest saloons and take advantage of the drinks deals, including $3 Miller Lites, $4 Blue Moons, $4 Leinenkugel’s Harvest Patch, $5 mixed drinks, and shooter specials. If you don’t go, it may haunt you forever.

Baltimore Halloween Crawl Fells Point: Calling all ghouls, ghosts, and goblins! Mark your calendars for the official Fells Point Halloween Crawl on October 27 from 1-9 p.m. A $12 ticket gets you a haunted mug, cover-free access to nearly a dozen Fells Point bars, food promotions, and an entry into a raffle to win prizes. Drink specials include $3 beers, $3 rail drinks, and $4 haunted shots. They’ll also be prizes for the best dressed participants. South Broadway

Power Plant Live Baltimore Horror Story: Creatures of the night unite for Baltimore’s biggest Halloween party at Power Plant Live on October 27. Pre-order a $5 ticket for access to all 11 bars and nightclubs, including Mosaic, Luckie’s Liquors, and Rams Head Live, and each bar will represent a different season from American Horror Story. The event will feature a costume contest with over $10,000 in prizes and a DJ spinning the spookiest tracks. 34 Market Pl., 410-727-5483

Supernatural Soirees

Power Plant Live! Halloween Rally: Start your Halloweekend early at Power Plant Live’s 6th annual Halloween rally. On October 25 from 10 p.m.-1 a.m., there will be an epic rave complete with live entertainment, confetti cannons, a photo booth, glow sticks, and tons of other spooktacular fun. General admission is $35 and includes five drink tickets, good at over 10 Power Plant bars and restaurants. 34 Market Pl., 410-727-5483

Rocket to Venus: This annual Halloween costume ball returns for its 12th year on October 27. DJ Ghoul Guy and Creepy Worm will spin tracks from 10 p.m.-2 a.m., and there will be cash prizes and drinks specials all night long. The costume contest judging starts at 1 a.m., so bring your ghoulfriends and zombaes and get ready for a scary good time. 3360 Chestnut Ave., 410-235-7887

Hollywood is Dead Party: Check out The Owl Bar’s Hollywood is Dead Party on October 27 from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Come dressed as your favorite dead celebrity and be ready to boo-gie at this spirited shindig. The event will feature a DJ playing party tunes, a costume contest, and tons of food and cocktail specials that you won’t want to miss. The cover charge is $5. 1 E Chase St., 410-347-0888

A Very Wicked Affair: Baltimore nonprofit HASA will host a Halloween-themed event at Boordy Vineyards on October 26 from 6-9:30 p.m. The $85 ticket includes bottomless wine, a fall harvest menu, live music by John Silver, and a commemorative wine glass. And the proceeds will benefit children and adults through HASA’s interpreting, educational, and therapeutic services. 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes, 410-318-6780

Lee’s Block Party: Celebrate Halloween with 20,000 free oysters at the 6th annual Shuckin’ in the Street festival. The block party goes from 12-10 p.m. on October 27 and features performances by DJ Nick Paros, Crushing Day, and Honey Extractor. There will also be a costume contest with a $1,000 prize. Get access to the event with a $10 donation at the door—a portion of the proceeds go to Kennedy Kreiger & The Chesapeake Oyster Recovery Partnership. 2844 Hudson St., 410-327-2883

Monster Melodies

The Glow Ball with Dos Santos: Do the monster mash at Creative Alliance’s annual costume dance party. The festivities start at 8:30 p.m. on October 27, and Chicago-based quintet Dos Santos will be taking center stage. Pre-ordered tickets are $13, and tickets at the door are $16, so get ready for a night of dancing and debauchery. 3134 Eastern Ave., 410-276-1651

Halloween Baltimore: Believe in Music and the Maryland Science Center are back with their annual Halloween extravaganza on October 27, featuring a diverse lineup of musical guests playing on seven unique stages. The acts include Dan Deacon, Natural Velvet, Prismatic, DJ James Nasty, Electric Love Machine, and many more. There’s also a costume contest with the first prize winner claiming a $1,000 prize. 601 Light St., 410.685.5225

Halloween Costume Party: Eat, drink, and be scary at The Windup Space’s Halloween bash on October 26 at 7 p.m. The $10 cover charge will get you access to tons of live entertainment, including performances by Ca8al, Kit & The Chardonnay Boys, AM I DEMON, Voodoo Pharmacology, and Rooney’s Shoe. 12 W North Ave., 410-244-8855

Halloween at the Symphony: Listen to the banshees belt and the sirens sing at this Halloween-themed musical event. Starting at 6:30 p.m. on October 26, the event will feature a costume contest with prizes, access to backstage tours, light fare and candy, as well as musical activities. Tickets are free for BSO members and their families and are $15 for non members. 1212 Cathedral St., 410-783-8000

Mondo Baltimore Halloween Bash: Celebrate Halloween’s spookiest screenplays at The Windup Space on October 27. The event is from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. and will feature the Mondo Baltimore Band, covering cult classic bad movie tunes, as well as clips from classic Halloween flicks to get the party started. 12 W North Ave., 410-244-8855

Halloween Happenings

Bike Party: Halloween Ride!: Gather your friends on October 26 for the scariest bike party of the year. From the Incredible Hulk and Spiderman to Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn, this Halloween hangout will surely attract all of Baltimore’s muscle-y monsters. The ride starts at 6:30 p.m. 600 N Paca St.

AVAM’s Free Fall Halloween Celebration: Boos and ghouls of all ages are invited to the American Visionary Art Museum’s Monster Mash-Up Workshop on October 30. From 4-7 p.m., visitors can create boo-tiful paper monsters, and the Halloween-day festivities are free of charge. 800 Key Highway, 410-244-1900

Fells Point Ghost Tours: There’s no better time to get to know Baltimore’s haunted history than on Halloweekend. Learn about Charm City’s supernatural past, share spooky tales, and maybe even see a ghoul or two in historic neighborhoods Mt. Vernon and Fells Point. 731 S. Broadway, 877-293-1571

Harry Potter Halloween at Johnny’s: Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s famous fantasy novels, Johnny’s in Roland Park is transforming into a wizardly wonderland on Halloween night. Come in costume to order spooky specials—in addition to the regular dinner menu—from servers decked out in Hogwarts-inspired attire. In keeping with the theme, the evening’s treats will include butterbeer cupcakes, Dragon’s Breath macarons, Troll Boogie bonbons, and more. 4800 Roland Ave. 410-773-0777

Every October, the Maryland Science Center transforms into what might be the biggest Halloween party to pop up in Baltimore City. By day, its dinosaur, space, and electricity-themed exhibits entice tots to learn about all things science, but by night, the institution turns into a full-on music festival in the Inner Harbor, featuring more than a dozen bands, a wild costume contest, and overflowing craft beer, all to benefit the center and youth education nonprofit Believe In Music.

While its only July, the event, now in its seventh year, has just announced its 2018 lineup, featuring familiar faces who have performed at past parties and exciting new acts. On Saturday October 27, some 22 Baltimore bands will perform across seven stages, from the planetarium to the rooftop to beneath a gigantic Tyrannosaurus Rex.

“In the same night, you can see a bluegrass band, an electronic band, and dance to James Nasty on the roof,” says Kenny Liner, founder and director of Believe In Music. “There will be so much to do and there will be so many talented, different people from Baltimore who deserve to be highlighted. I just wish we could include more.”

The main stage will feature big-name headliners: soulful sextet J Pope and the HearNow, funky jam band Electric Love Machine, and the main event, mad-scientist electronic artist Dan Deacon. “Dan is the perfect fit,” says Liner. “His shows are so fun and interactive. He makes the crowd feel special and allows them to have a really good time.”

Meanwhile, the Friends of Friends (Records) Stage will highlight rising DIY acts such as soulful R&B singer Joy Postell, experimental duo Wume, post-punk rockers Natural Velvet, and indie trio Outer Spaces, while the planetarium will host a handful of techno artists. As in years past, the Charm City Bluegrass Stage will be dedicated to Americana musicians, such as CCBG Battle of the Bands winner The Dirty Grass Players and folk bellwether Caleb Stine, and both DJs Rob Macy of Save Your Soul and James Nasty will be back on the ones and twos for an epic dance party into the wee hours of the nights.

Exhibits will be open throughout the evening, as will the IMAX theater, where electronic group Deltanine will perform a live score to an immersive film. Tickets usually sell out and are now on sale for general admission ($35) and VIP ($75).

“The best thing about this party is that we’re coming together to support Baltimore,” says Liner. “As much as the city needs to support organizations like Believe in Music, it needs to support institutions like the Science Center. Without it, there would be a huge void in Baltimore for kids to learn and experience cool science stuff. My daughter is only eight months old and she already absolutely loves it. In Baltimore, we’re all in it together.”